Interim Berlinetta # 1377GT

250GT#1377GT was white with registration plates EE 8065. Raced at Le Mans 1959 with number 20.

 

Only have built sheet information:
Telaio tipo: 508D matricola: 1377 GT
Motor tipo: 128F matricola: 1377 GT numero interno 0430F
Cambio tipo: 508D matricola: 196 D
Ponte tipo: 508D matricola: 417 D

Peter Grootswagers

 

great shots

 

#1461 GT, motore tipo 128 F, matricolo 1461 GT, numero interno 0396 F (original built sheet)
#1465 GT, no info, type 128 D engine (according to Raab)
#1509 GT, motore tipo 128 DF, numero interno 0398 DF (according to Barchetta and Raab)
#1519 GT, no info, inside plug engine 128 D (according to Barchetta) - 128 DF numero interno 0478 DF (according to Raab)
#1521 GT, no info, inside plug engine 128 D (according to Barchetta) - 128 DF numero interno 0480 DF (according to Raab)
#1523 GT, no info, type 128 DF engine (according to Barchetta) - numero interno 0476 DF (according to Raab)

Best wishes,

Peter Grootswagers

 

If you don't have it, here's a pic from Jes Pourret's book. According to him it was wrecked by Cherubini in the 60s then sold to Chinetti.
The engine has later been installed in another car.
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Pretty interesting. So when Tom Walgamuth's PF Coupé engine (#0472) had been picked out of line, the four next blocks were picked out for the remaining four Interim Berlinettas...

 

someone know were is the original #1377 engine

 

I do too !! Well just the block, I discovered this several years back

Problem is both internal number and number pad have both been modified. Numero internal undetectable

Front of the block had also been modified (crudely) to accomodate a different timing chest, for a 128E/F configuration

Engine builder decided not to have his name on a hodge podge (BITSA) motor, knew it would come back to bite him,
recommended the proper block be used with the rest of his components (not 128D/F), and returned it to the customer.

 

#1463 says Hi to its 2 illustrious siblings #1461 & #1465
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Labor Day at Lime Rock
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Two sides to every story I guess. As I have understood it, the engine builder kept the block back for about eight months without doing anything else than pulling the liners out (Ouch!) also trying to convince the owner that it is nothing more than a tired PF Coupe block that can't be rebuilt (I wonder why...). I have also understood that the engine builder would have substituted the block with a proper street engine at no extra cost. How generous of him! Still I never thought that somebody would come out and admit all this going on in the open. Best wishes, Kare

 

This post has been quiet for a long time, I am always interested in cars that had to do with Venezuela, the more I learn and investigate the more I realise that the information in Barchetta is mostly mistaken about venezuelan cars, are there other sources?
There is anoter picture posted yesterday.
http://www.tifosichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=140270898#post140270898
branko
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After Le Mans 59 this car was taken to la Lotteria di Monza by Fayen (not shown on any records so far) and according to Fayen's papers he was disqualified ( I assume it was not accepted as a GT, even if the week before it ran in GT class), another interesting fact was that the car remained in France in the hands of Jean Behra to have it ready for the Tour De France in which he was going to race with Fayen.
Article in venezuelan newspaper.



At Monza Fayen and his wife, at the door of 0969 Willy Mairesse.
branko
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Branko,

of course Jean Berhra died in a sports car race at the Avus on the first of August 1959, which left Fayen without co-driver for the Tour de France Automobile 1959.

Do you know Fayen did try to find another co-driver or returned to Venezuela straight away for the Gran Premio de la Ciudad de Ojeda (which was held simultaneously in September 1959)?

 

Wish I could answer your question, I can only assume that after Behra's death, Fayen brought his car to Venezuela and raced it in Septemeber 20th at Ciudad Ojeda, where he won and was disqualified after the race, the authorities considered that the car was not an homologated GT.
branko
Picture at Ciudad Ojeda 1959
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ex-works, at LM in 1959...
Purported to be faster in a straight line than the TRs(had a late TR after all!), but it "handled like a truck" and it was easily passed in the corners-the drivers were also "substandard for such a car"-(so says a witness from a concessionaires team/pits)..

History claims it was wrecked at B'hampton in '66-'69(?), body mashed, frame damaged(I have pics post stripping...in the snow, outside LCM...)
It has been re-bodied(where-in "quality is ALWAYS A subjective evaluation), there are 3(THREE!) blocks with buggered numbers as TS has described-I've seen 1 of them and passed-the owner claims 3!!! are making similar assertions), a non-original transmission, non=original diff, guages, etc...the car's being resurrected with period applicable components

This WAS an IMPORTANT CAR...then,
NOW, merely an interesting...."resurrection" ...
a repaired frame is all that survives LeMans from 1959...in my OPINJION...
having EXAMINED IT IN THE FLESH....on more than 1 occassion

It will make a GREAT vintage racer(our interests), but, forget the "Lawn" at Pebble...those guys way too pershickety(prewar mentality) for a car with drama like this....BESIDES, ALL THESE CARS WERE RACING CARS TO BEGIN WITH, SO BIG DEAL....
If not for the third prototype car, we probably take a pass at it...
ALL in IMHO....
re Racing, ex-works cars, NOT for the faint of heart or wallet, caveat emptor....

 

Interesting.

This is what happens to race cars. As long as everything is fully disclosed all is good.

 

Hi 335, I have a different story, someone sent me this article and I believe it is in Cavallino #95, besides I spoke 2 weeks ago with Fayens widow.

A visit with Carlos Kauffmann to talk about Ferrari is a truly unique experience. His stories, his memories, and his tales about the people he met and knew make for fascinating listening. For example, Carlos sold a white long wheelbase berlinetta (s/n 1377 GT, the first of seven “Interim” LWB berlinettas) to Lino Fayen of Venezuela to be driven by Fayen and Gino Munaron at the 24 hours of Le Mans; they finished sixth overall and fourth in the GT class. Carlos accompanied the team to France and was able to secure Factory mechanical assistance from Ferrari for the car at Le Mans, but this meant that the team had to obey Factory orders. With one hour left and good Finishing positions guaranteed, Ferrari´s team manager, Romolo Tavoni, ordered their drivers to maintain their positions and not race each other. Fayen who was in the berlinetta at the time who had aspirations of becoming a Factory team driver, continued to hammer around the Sarthe circuit disobeying Tavoni´s orders. Factory support was withdrawn before the race was concluded and, after the race, when Carlos accompanied Fayen back to Maranello, Il Commendatore refused to even receive Fayen! Needless to say, Fayen never became a Factory team driver
branko
More will follow about the story of this car and 0726.

 

Cavallino 174 of last year had this story on the Interims showing 1521GT.
The frame of 1377GT entered the PF plant on March 31 1959 and the car was finished on June 10. Delivery to Fayen through Kauffmann took place in France one week before the start of the Le Mans 24 hrs race!
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Two engines can be quite easily explained in a case of a Le Mans prepared car as driving the first 4'000 kms with full throttle isn't exactly the best way to break in a new engine. I personally believe this car was delivered with two engines and the fact that factory archives seem only to recognize one engine per car (the last one installed) is a problem not fully recognized in the field. I have no idea what the 3rd engine is. This really is a can of worms just like factory renumbering so such things occuring are usually strictly denied. Then it is really up to whether you are willing to cut corners to get a car "fully documented" or if you want to know what really happaned.

In this case it is quite interesting that the engine that came out of 2105GT seems to belong to a batch of four 128/DF-engines. Two of them (plus this one?) was prepared for Le Mans entries and the fourth one was later installed into yet another Interim Berlinetta. "0430F" as described by existing build sheets seems to be a "motore regolaro" and I think it could very well be a factory replacement. If this turned out to be true, which one should be regarded as the original matching numbers engine?

Best wishes, Kare